"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1977: On Guiding Light, Eve Stapleton (Janet Grey) was released from Cedars Hospital. She would later go blind.

1979: On The Edge of Night, Elliott couldn't (Lee Godart) resist Raven (Sharon Gabet) even though he was aghast she left the baby alone.

1980: On Texas, Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) asked her husband, Brian Bancroft, in Bay City to come to Houston.

1984: On Guiding Light, H.B. (Larry Gates) announced the merger of Lewis Oil and LTA at the Springfield Founders Day celebration.

1985: On General Hospital, Robert (Tristan Rogers) and Anna (Finola Hughes) plotted to get the Aztec jewels.

1986: On Another World, Reginald Love (John Considine) interrupted the funeral of Zane Lindquist. This episode was Nancy Frangione's last appearance as Cecile DePoulignac until October 31, 1989. The teenage King of Tanquir arrived to take Cecile away. She left, but not before calling Kathleen McKinnon (Julie Osburn) a "frowzy sack of potatoes."

1989: Elinor Donahue guest-starred on Generations as Sylvia Furth, a daytime television network executive who wanted to see her friend Jessica Gardner (Barbara Rhoades) return to her role on the fictional soap opera Tomorrow's Another Day.

1990: On Another World, gossip columnist Shana Barr (played by real life gossip reporter Claudia Cohen) tried to badger Sharlene (Anna Holbrook) and Josie (Alexandra Wilson) for the scoop about her affair with Grant but Vicky (Anne Heche) intervened.

1991: On Days of our Lives, back from the dead Marlena (Deidre Hall) reunited with Roman (played by Drake Hogestyn at the time) on the pier.

1994: On All My Children, Erica (Susan Lucci) held on to Mona's casket and begged her mother not to leave her (continued from Friday, August 12). Later, Erica asked Mona's picture for advice while lying in bed.

1995: Actor Robert Pickering, whose soap roles included Mike Bauer on The Guiding Light and Dr. Goddard in Days of our Lives, died at age 57.

2000: On Passions, Julian Crane (Ben Masters) stole Ivy's attaché case from Pilar's house, and worked to break into it.

2006:Passions became the first daytime soap opera to make full episodes available for download and purchase from iTunes.

2007: Bob Hiltermann made his first appearance on All My Children as Walter Novak, Annie Lavery's (Melissa Claire Egan) estranged father.